Flight bookings of $500 (exactly) are equal to 2 cents per point on British Airways, American Airlines, United, and Delta

All other flights with other airlines are 1.67 cents to the dollar for $500 flights (30,000 points required)

Minimum redemption is 25,000 points

If you purchase a ticket for $500, on one of the above airlines, you’ll be required to spend 25,000 points. This essentially gives you $1,000 in value when using on flights.

My Experience Getting Approved

Bank of America (and Merill Lynch) merge credit pulls. My wife recently applied for this new Merill Lynch card and a Bank of America Alaska Airlines credit card and she only had one pull.

Proof is in the pudding.

Two pulls become one!

Just note that if you apply for the Merill Lynch card and the Bank of America Alaska Business product (or any Bank of America Business product), it will most likely be a second pull with Experian or an alternative bureau.

Bottom Line

These Merill Lynch points are potentially very lucrative and seem to be easy to earn. Sometimes award space isn’t always available (particularly during peak travel times) and you don’t want to pay cash. Finally, these redemptions will earn elite qualifying miles and points.